willow leaf fig

[Jamie]

hey guys,

this tree is a little bit of a mess up, i airlayered it twice without getting the amount of roots i wanted so i ended up taking it off and making it a big cutting, it grew some more roots but still one sided, so a few nicks were made and rooting hormone added then potted up in this, i guy wired it down to stop movement and wired the tree out. this is what i came out with. the one leaf you can see is on a branch i wont be using but it is the only one that is on the tree right now, it dropped its leaves after it was taken off the parent. it has all fresh growing tips they are close to opening so i look forward to that

no befores sorry, as usually i got excited when i started wiring. i have realised the importance of having the branches harden off before wiring, it is so much easier!

Willow leaf front.jpg

Willow leaf top.jpg

jamie

[Amanda]

no befores sorry, as usually i got excited when i started wiring.

Great fig, Jamie. I am liking the willow leaf more and more

[Chris]

good stuff jamie i love the over head shot

[kvan64]

Nice job jamie. No before shots but I guess it must be 100% better by looking at how you fixed the mixing branches. I will have to do mine soon.

[Jamie]

thanks guys

thats correct DK, imagine the shoots just all going up, straight up basically out from the trunk. i would have to really go back through my files to find a before pic if i have one as i lost a lot when my computer went down.

jamie

[craigw60]

Hi Jamie, what are your intentions with this tree ? Do you want to maintain its current height and slow grow it or are you going to make it smaller ?. At the moment everything is too long the trunk is too tall for the thickness of it and the branches are way too long. If you are going to maintain its height as it is now it would be better to spend a bit of time getting some weight and taper into the trunk.
Craig

[anttal63]

I agree with Craig, jamie. The left hand 1st branch also contradicts the flow of the tree. However i do like the styling character you are using here. This one wont look like a pine!

[Jamie]

gday Craig and Ant!!

at the moment craig i am trying to develop a decent root system, i need it to stay still in the pot, but it need TLC attention as it was an air layer gone wrong like i said. once it has developed that root system i am after, and can stand on its own feet, then it will be put in the ground to develop trunk thickness and taper. it has got decent flair at the base as i wedged out the bark when it was layered!

agreed ant this one wont look like a pine! im a bit unsure about the first left hand branch too, but i wanted to keep all the branching on the tree as they all have buds on them that when the open they will help strengthen the tree.

cheers guys

jamie

[craigw60]

Hi Jamie, if you are intending to field grow then don't worry too much about the branches as they will probably get too heavy anyway. I don't have to tell how easily figs shoot back.
Craig

[Jamie]

to right craig, i will keep them all there for now though, i need as much energy in the tree as i can get at the moment

J.

[craigw60]

Yep your going to need them to thicken the trunk especially those low ones. You need to watch out that you don't have too many branches too close together when strong growing or your'll end up with a massive scar or worse reverse taper.

[Jamie]

there are a few branches that are close together, once it leafs out again i will be chopping back then growing and choping to gain the size and taper i need

there are always drawbacks for what we want and need, when growing for size and taper we have to sacrifice either one or the other to get the desired effect


J.

[Jamie]

ok here is a little update as asked for by DK

it has leafed out well and continues to shoot back from within the tree. the leaves look a little yellow, that is because they are still young and the colour from phone camera's arent flash.

Wlfleafed.jpg

Wlftop.jpg

it has gone into the collander as i needed the pot.

im just letting it grow right now to get some good strength up, then i will be reducing height, and branching (they wont be getting wasted, all will be used as cuttings) or possibly sell it and the new owner can do the reduction, so if anyone wants it, i will consider all offers

Jamie